Within the Marine Engineering (ME) Department, the “Chief Tiff” was a Chief Petty Officer Marine Engineering Artificer (CPOMEA), who was the senior skilled ME technical rating onboard and had functional authority over all ME artificers and mechanicians.
The Chief Stoker was a Chief Marine Engineering Mechanic (CMEM), who was the senior semi-skilled ME technical rating onboard and was responsible for the ME watchbill and for discipline within the ME department. The highest ranking non-commissioned officer was the Fleet Chief Petty Officer (FCPO).
In 1983, mechanicians were re-categorised as Marine Engineering Artificers (MEAs).
In 1986, the FCPO was retitled Warrant Officer (WO) and the “Chief Tiff” was replaced by the rate of Charge Chief Marine Engineering Artificer (CCMEA).
In 2004, the WO was retitled WO1 and the CCMEA became WO2.
The original article can be found at Charge Chief Petty Officer and the edit history here.